Athletic Coaching & Recreation Degree Programs

Athletic Coaching and Recreation Management

Pursue your passion for sports and build the skills it takes to lead a team with a major in Athletic Coaching and Recreation Management from Dean College.

Program Overview

Coaches today do much more than run plays and win games. The best coaches are mentors and educators who inspire players to reach their goals in sports and in life. As an Athletic Coaching and Recreation Management major at Dean College, you’ll prepare to do all that and more. You can choose from two tracks within this major:

Athletic Coaching
Recreation Management

Our program combines a solid academic foundation with activity-based classes and plenty of real-world experience. You’ll learn coaching fundamentals and theories alongside fitness, nutrition and personal conditioning skills, business principles and leadership skills.

Athletic Coaching

In the Athletic Coaching track, you’ll learn and apply management skills like team and project management, strategic planning and active listening as you prepare to coach youth, recreational, club, collegiate or professional sports teams.

Recreation Management

In the Recreation Management track, you’ll study recreation management and leadership practices and experiential learning concepts to help enhance your skills in management, programming and group dynamics in order to manage recreation departments or health and fitness centers.

A Dean College professor talking to students at a podium after class

Dean R. Sanders ’47 School of Business Faculty

Gain valuable insights from our faculty, who have firsthand business knowledge as consultants, executives and entrepreneurs.

Beyond The Classroom

Dean College student learning Athletic Coaching and Rec Management

Practice your skills and put your knowledge to use in the world. At Dean, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get hands-on coaching and management experience.

Complete an internship with a Dean coach. Review recruiting videos, set up practice sessions, design a workout—you’ll discover what it takes to lead a team.
Learn about the field from guest speakers who regularly visit Dean to share their stories, offer guidance and provide valuable networking contacts.
Practice your skills by testing Dean athletes on their strength and fitness.

You’ll graduate with the skills and knowledge you need to launch a rewarding career as an athletic coach, educator, fitness center manager, recreation department manager and other sports-related roles. You’ll find Bulldogs working for employers like the YMCA, Orange Theory Fitness, various high school and collegiate athletic programs and much more.

Dean College Careers in Sports

Get Involved

Learn more about how to get involved with student organizations, activities and exclusive learning opportunities.

Dean College Athletics Combine your passion for sports in class and on the field.
On-Campus Fitness & Recreation Take advantage of our fitness programs and spaces.
Internships & Experiential Learning Get hands-on experience through The Center for Business, Entertainment and Sport Management.

Internships & Experiential Learning

Go behind-the-scenes of some of the biggest sports operations, network with industry leaders and professionals in the field, and find internship and career opportunities through The Center for Business, Entertainment and Sport Management and our academic partners, including Kraft Sports + Entertainment and the Providence Bruins. Learn more about The Center.

Uniquely Dean

Two students studying for class in a Dean College classroom.

Discover the unique programming that the Dean College Athletic Coaching and Recreation Management program has to offer.

Tailor your academic studies to the sport of your choice.
Learn what it takes to be a professional coach by interning with Dean College coaches.
Gain hands-on experience by working with Dean College teams.
Meet with and learn from professional coaches from major teams in the area, including the New England Patriots, Providence Bruins and New England Revolution.
Tour professional facilities and arenas, such as Gillette Stadium, the New England Revolution Training Center, and Helix Esports at Patriot Place, an esports gaming center and the official practice facility for the Boston Uprising.
Network with industry leaders, gain exclusive learning opportunities and pursue internships through The Center for Business, Entertainment and Sport Management.
Learn from experienced faculty and staff.